'The Office' Cast Ready For Ninth Season; One Problem, Though...

Jenna Fischer has reportedly set something straight: casting won't hold up whether "The Office" returns this coming fall.

Dunder Mifflin's Pam Beasley reportedly told The Hollywood Reporter recently that every main player the acclaimed-but-showing-its-age comedy could need back is ready, waiting and willing. That includes herself, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms and writer/supporting performer Mindy Kaling, she said.

"So it's really just a matter of NBC pulling the trigger," Fischer clarified. The big call isn't getting the right names signing on a dotted line, but NBC deciding on a renewal.

In the meantime, replacement regional manager and Steve Carell replacement James Spader has already confirmed he won't be returning. Fischer, Helms, Krasinski and B.J. Novak all have contracts that expire after the current season.

Meanwhile, Wilson could make an exit alongside showrunner Paul Lieberstein is NBC moves forward with plans to spin off Wilson's Dwight Schrute sycophant into what could become either the next "Fraiser" or the next "Joey" - spin-offs, after all, often go one way or the other with little in-between. Kaling has shot her own FOX pilot co-starring Helms, who will soon begin shooting a third "The Hangover" installment.

"I don't know how all that works out," Fischer said of Kaling's situation, in particular. "That doesn't mean she's gone forever. Listen, Mindy writes on our show, so we actually only get her for a couple of shooting days every week anyway, so I don't know if that's something can be worked out. Like I said, I don't make all those schedules or anything, but yeah, I mean a lot of things are mis-reported and exaggerated and it's hard to read."

According to Fischer, the wait shouldn't be long: NBC faces a supposed May 15 deadline to announce whether the show has been renewed.